Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern said he had ‘done no wrong’ when questioned about corruption claims.

Mr Ahern told a tribunal he had never taken money for favours during his 30-year political career.

The Mahon tribunal was set up in 1997 to investigate allegations of bribery linked to planning decisions made during the 1980s and 1990s.

Among the claims against Mr Ahern, centring on when he was finance minister and deputy premier in the 1990s, are allegations that he accepted money from property developer Owen O’Callaghan.

He is also accused of impropriety over £30,000 he received to pay for refurbishments to a Dublin house he wanted to rent.

The owner of the property, Manchester businessman Michael Wall, gave the cash to Mr Ahern in his constituency office.

‘I did nothing improper. I did no wrong and I wronged nobody,’ Mr Ahern said in his opening statement to the tribunal. ‘I’ve been tormented about these issues since May 8, 2000. I’ve waited seven-and-a-half years for this day.’

Mr Ahern, 56, who won a third term as prime minister for his Fianna Fail party earlier this year, has admitted having poor judgment over loans he received as finance minister.

However, he denies having any hidden wealth.

He added later: ‘I get allegations ten to the penny â it goes with the job, But these were different.’